30921 research outputs found
Sort by
Effects of Infection with Brainworm Parasite (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) on the Climbing Behaviour in a Host Gastropod Species (Deroceras laeve)
Get PDFBrainworm parasite (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) is a nematode parasite which typically infects white-tailed deer (WTD – Odocoileus virginianus) as a definitive host, where it often causes no severe harm. It develops through larval stages in terrestrial gastropods and is eventually ingested by the WTD to complete its life cycle. Brainworm can infect other ungulates accidentally, most commonly moose (Alces alces), where it causes serious neurological disease and often death. Here, I investigate the potential role of parasite-modified behaviour in influencing the ingestion of the gastropod hosts by the ungulate host. I hypothesize that when infected with P. tenuis larvae, a gastropod host, the meadow slug (Deroceras laeve) will display altered vertical climbing behaviour, predicting an increase in vertical climbing activity. Vertical climbing behaviour was assessed amongst 15 infected and 45 uninfected slug hosts at four different times throughout the day, on two separate days. I found a significant effect of the interaction between the weight of slugs, their infection status, and the time of day on vertical climbing behaviour. This is novel evidence to support the parasite-modified behaviour hypothesis in P. tenuis and suggests that climbing behaviours may play a role in the transmission of brainworm. Further research would be beneficial, as replicates in this study were low, and the presence of coinfection with a secondary parasite in some samples may have provided a confounding effect
NRC – automated compost mixing tool
Get PDFThe National Research Council (NRC) requires an automated compost stirring device to replace the current manual process used in its biodegradability testing of plastics. Lab technicians spend four hours each week manually mixing compost in 48 glass vessels, which is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and causes ergonomic hazards to technicians. The objective of this project is to automate the process by ensuring uniform mixing, reducing labor, and maintaining the integrity of the glass vessels used for testing.
The design combines internal and external mechanisms for effective operation. The internal mechanism features a segmented auger to break compost clumps, a wiper blade to scrape compost from vessel walls, and a grate-holding sleeve to secure the metal grate and prevent scratches on the glass vessel, enabling mixing of compost with varying consistencies. The external mechanism consists of a motor with adjustable speeds, a secure clamping system, and a user-friendly control panel allowing a single operator to set up and mix all 48 vessels in under four hours.
Users set up the device by assembling internal components, placing the vessel in the frame, lowering the motor-lid system, and activating the mixer via a speed-adjustable control, reducing manual effort to a simple, ergonomic process.
The verification process confirmed the design’s success in achieving goals for durability, safety, cost, ease of use, and size. The device operates quietly and supports single operator use, significantly reducing manual effort while meeting key safety and operational requirements. Tests for compost uniformity and spillage tolerance require further evaluation due to clamping challenges at high speeds. This offers areas for engineering recommendations, such as improving automation and user-friendliness. The device improves the efficiency and reliability of biodegradability testing while reducing strain on lab technicians
Herbivory resistance to generalist feeder Trichoplusia ni of faba bean (Vicia faba) exposed to salinity stress
Get PDFPlants are often exposed to multiple stress factors simultaneously. Exposure to one stress can exacerbate or mitigate the response to a subsequent stress. While salinity and herbivory can impair growth and physiological function individually, their combined effects remain poorly understood. To investigate this interaction and determine if salt tolerance influences resistance to herbivory, Vicia faba (cv. Broad Windsor) plants were grown under salinity (0, 50, 75, 100 mM NaCl) and exposed to cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) herbivory. Gas exchange parameters (photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration) were not significantly affected by salinity after 11 days of treatment. After 20 days, salinity did not
affect plant height, stem biomass or water content of most tissues but significantly reduced root and lateral leaf biomass. Total phenolic compounds and total soluble proteins in the leaves were also unchanged. Elemental analysis revealed that salinity significantly increased Na and Cl concentrations in all three tissue types (leaves, stems, and roots), with the highest accumulation in roots. Salinity significantly increased the concentrations of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Mo) in the leaves, suggesting efficient nutrient retention in photosynthetically active tissues. Constitutive resistance to herbivory was not significantly affected by salinity. However, induced resistance was
significantly impaired in salt-treated plants. Together, these findings indicate that V. faba exhibits moderate tolerance to salinity, maintaining gas exchange and nutrient homeostasis under salt stress while minimizing growth impairments. The compromised induced resistance highlights the vulnerability of inducible defenses and suggests that salinity may force a tradeoff between preserving physiological function and sustaining inducible defences against herbivory. These results emphasize the importance of considering stress interactions when evaluating plant defence.NSER
Measuring the Active Learning Gains of Students In Undergraduate Biology Labs Using Peer Review
Get PDFThe peer-review process allows students to engage in the valuable exercise of critically thinking about how they generate and judge the validity of an idea. This is a cornerstone of the scientific community and a core component of biological sciences. Some students in undergraduate studies routinely underperform in the traditional educational experience and benefit greatly from active learning. In a first-year introductory biological science course at the University of Manitoba, I studied the population by using an online peer-review platform called Peerceptiv to study the standardized learning gains of different demographic groups of students to determine if any subgroups experienced a disproportional benefit in this learning exercise compared to any others. I hypothesized that peer-to-peer feedback on scientific graphing would raise the measurable graded assignment scores of URM students in undergraduate biological science, and therefore predicted that there would be no significant difference between URM and non-URM students' graded performance after peer-to-peer input. Students in certain groups did have higher learning gains over the course of the semester when averaged however, these results were not significantly different from the rest of the population. Overall, the reception of the exercise was very positive in student perceptions with 79% of respondents saying that it helped them understand the concepts they learned about. The strongest response was from students saying that getting reviews of their work was the most useful, with 87%. Ultimately, this study shows that students learn from the peer review process and have learning gains associated with it however, additional testing is necessary to definitively say which groups may or may not benefit the most from this activity
Development of a microfluidic paper-based device for point-of-care measurement of serum Cystatin C in chronic kidney disease
Get PDFIn clinical practice of chronic kidney disease (CKD), Cystatin C (CYS-C) is recommended as a superior serum biomarker for the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) compared to the traditional sole creatinine-based eGFR equation, owing to its minimal influence by non-filtration-specific factors such as muscle mass, age, and gender. However, the current CYS-C test is limited to specialized diagnostic labs and no point-of-care (POC) tools are clinically available. To address this gap, we leveraged the enabling power of microfluidic devices for POC tests of CYS-C. Among the various types of microfluidic devices, paper-based dry chips have been widely used for disease biomarker measurements with their respective advantages and limitations. Therefore, in this study, we developed a paper-based microfluidic lateral flow immunoassay chip with a unique channel design and a novel electric field-assisted antibody loading protocol for quantitative CYS-C tests. We demonstrated that paper chips meet the clinical requirements of the serum CYS-C detection range and limit. Importantly, this microfluidic chip is packaged into a special housing cartridge integrated with a custom-developed portable reader. The reader is wirelessly controlled by a smartphone app as a POC test prototype. In validation studies using serum samples from CKD patients across different disease stages, the proposed chip tests showed a similar agreement level with the traditional well plate-based immunoturbidity assay test results. As an integrated POC test system, the microfluidic CYS-C paper chip test showed high accuracy to determine the eGFR range based on several clinically relevant grouping criteria. Collectively, this integrated microfluidic assay offers practical solutions for decentralized POC diagnostic tests of CKD with competitive advantages over existing methods.October 202
Using long-read sequencing to diagnose rare neuromuscular disorders: a pilot study
Get PDFMany individuals with suspected genetic neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) remain undiagnosed despite extensive conventional genetic testing, which generally employs short-read sequencing (SRS) methods. Long-read sequencing (LRS) is a recently introduced technology which offers improved genome coverage and variant detection missed in standard approaches. Therefore, this pilot study aimed to investigate the application of long-read whole genome sequencing (LR-WGS) with the PacBio Revio platform for five participants (four families) with undiagnosed NMDs to identify causal genetic variants. Retrospective participant chart reviews were first conducted to assess phenotype, inheritance patterns, and other clinical factors. Following this, a novel bioinformatics pipeline was developed to enhance variant annotation and prioritization by integrating LRS population data with established genomic population frequency databases and in-silico predictions of deleteriousness. Finally, manual filtration was performed to further refine variant prioritization based on the clinical insights gained from chart reviews. Candidate variants of interest were found in three of four families analyzed (75%), including strong candidates in the FLNC and DMD genes, and a potential candidate in the TTN gene requiring functional validation. This pilot validates the pipeline for analysis of LRS data and provides evidence that LR-WGS could offer improvements over traditional SRS approaches in diagnosing NMDs, particularly in detecting complex variants. Improving accurate molecular diagnosis ultimately leads to better clinical outcomes for affected patients, including personalized treatment strategies and interventions. Future directions include the study of additional participants with NMDs to allow for a more comprehensive evaluation of diagnostic yield and applicability across diverse genetic backgrounds
Evaluating the impact of subsurface drainage and subirrigation on wheat production in heavy clay soils
No full textEffective water management is crucial for optimizing crop productivity. This study investigated the effectiveness of subsurface drainage and subirrigation in managing soil water for wheat production in heavy clay soils at Arborg, Manitoba. Field experiments were conducted at the Prairie East Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (PESAI) farm at Arborg, Manitoba. Different subsurface drainage designs (30-ft (9.1 m) and 45-ft (13.7 m) spacing) were used for subirrigation during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. Soil moisture response under these systems was assessed at 0.2, 0.6, and 0.9 m depths using soil moisture sensors for continuous monitoring throughout the growing season. In 2022, with above-average rainfall, controlled drainage removed adequate amount of water and resulted in significantly higher yield (p < 0.05) midway-between-tiles in the 30-ft spacing plot compared to the non-tiled control. In contrast, during the dry year of 2023, despite subirrigation, yield from the 30-ft plot was lower than the average yield in the Interlake region due to insufficient water. However, the on-tile treatment in the 45-ft plot and control (non-tile) plot produced significantly (p < 0.05) above-average yields in 2023 due to less water being drained from the field compared to the 30-ft plot. The data from this research was used to calibrate and validate the DRAINMOD model to assess the influence of tile drain spacing and subirrigation on relative yield in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Simulation results indicated that in 2022, relative yields in the 30-ft and 45-ft plots were 97.2% and 97.0%, respectively. Subirrigation reduced drought stress in the 15-ft plot during 2021, a dry year. A six-day planting delay caused a 5.2% yield loss in 2023. These findings demonstrated the importance of optimally managing controlled drainage systems to enhance wheat yield in heavy clay soils.October 202
Brandon Symposium workshop discussions
No full textThe University of Manitoba’s Centre on Aging, in collaboration with the Manitoba Association of Senior Centres, hosted a day long symposium in Brandon on September 30, 2016. Following presentations from researchers, participants were invited to take part in an afternoon workshop to discuss the strategic objectives identified in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Strategy and Action Plan: Aligning health systems to the needs of the older populations they now serve; Developing systems for providing long term care; Creating age-friendly environments; Improving measuring, monitoring, and understanding.
For each objective discussed, three priority actions were identified by the WHO in relation to meeting each strategic objective, which helped to inform the discussions. A fifth strategic objective, committing to foster healthy ageing in every country, was omitted from discussion since the researcher presentations were focused on this specific objective.
Over 50 people participated in the group discussions, where they discussed two of the objectives and identified how well Manitoba was doing in relation to addressing the WHO’s objectives. Participants selected a topic that interested them and each group was assigned a facilitator/note taker
Summary Report of the Pre-Conference Workshop at CAG2017
No full textIn February 2017, the Canadian Association on Gerontology and the Centre on Aging at the University of Manitoba applied for a Planning and Dissemination Grant from the Institute of Aging (CIHR). Several partners supported the application. These partners included: Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC); Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA); AGE-WELL; Canadian Geriatrics Society; Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association; Transportation Option Network for Seniors; Active Aging Canada; Manitoba Association of Senior Centres; Active Living Coalition for Older Adults in Manitoba.
In May of 2017, we were informed that we were successful in receiving funding for the Pre-conference Workshop to be held at the Canadian Association on Gerontology Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting. The theme of the Meeting being “Evidence for Action in an Aging World”. Planning for the Workshop included a meeting at the 2017 International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics World Congress, with several of the partners mentioned above
Does individuals' perception of CCTV cameras in public spaces influence their behaviour and sense of safety? The case of Winnipeg
Get PDFThe safety issue in downtown Winnipeg has become a significant topic of debate in the media and government circles, prompting the implementation of various safety strategies, including closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. This research examines whether individuals' perception of CCTV in public spaces influences their behaviour and sense of public safety. Based on surveillance and governmentality theories and semi-structured in-depth interviews, the study addresses these critical questions: How do individuals perceive CCTV cameras in public spaces in Winnipeg, and do their perceptions influence/shape their behaviour and sense of safety? While some participants welcomed surveillance for its potential to enhance safety, others expressed distrust, citing concerns about privacy, data insecurity, racial profiling, and civil liberties. Mixed opinions emerged regarding the cameras' effectiveness in deterring crime and influencing behavior. While participants acknowledged that surveillance cameras can create a sense of awareness that influences them to modify their behaviour and potentially discourage anti-social acts, they also voiced significant concerns about their ability to truly prevent crime, believing that criminals can devise ways to evade detection. The study highlights that public safety extends beyond technology, emphasizing the need for real-time human intervention and community-based initiatives. Although surveillance cameras are perceived as a tool for monitoring, they are not seen as sufficient to ensure safety without complementary measures such as police patrols, better lighting, community bonding, and community initiatives such as Bear Clan and the Downtown Community Safety Partnership. The study contributes to knowledge by providing a nuanced understanding of public perceptions of CCTV surveillance and its impact on safety and behaviour.May 202